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The Congress was opened by Ewelina Jastrzębska, Deputy Mayor of Kielce, and Paweł Kułaga, President of RPZiUK and initiator of the event, who emphasised the importance of sustainable development and shared responsibility for the future of urban spaces.

 Each presentation is a story about a specific city and its green development path. We want to share experiences, but also listen and inspire each other , said Paweł Kułaga, opening the event.

The Congress agenda included 16 points, and panel discussions, international presentations and practitioners' speeches. Guests from Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan showed how cities around the world are making efforts to become greener, more climate-resilient and more liveable.

Gabrielle Pütz from Berlin presented the revitalisation of public spaces in the spirit of water retention and green infrastructure, Hendrik Bloem from Belgium talked about the transformation of post-industrial areas of Brussels and Ghent, and Sedat Shamilli from Azerbaijan presented the modernisation of the urban fabric of Baku. Nurhan Redzheb, an urban planner from Bulgaria, showed practical implementations of Nature-Based Solutions in cities such as Dobrich and Stara Zagora, including green-blue infrastructure systems, multifunctional spaces, and urban projects that increase climate resilience and residents' quality of life.

Polish speakers cast light effective waste management and its role in energy production, the use of ESG in urban planning, green financing of investments (BGK presentation), innovations in thermal insulation (Ecobauter company), as well as an example of local solutions implemented in Kielce, such as the Sensory Garden project or the concept of revitalization of the Kielce Reservoir by architect Karolina Padło.

The expo stand of the District Greenery and Municipal Services Company also enjoyed great interest. Designed with ecology and aesthetics in mind, it was made entirely of biodegradable materials by DS Smith, the strategic sponsor of the Congress. Workshops on planting plants in biodegradable pots were held there, organised in cooperation with Wzgórze Zamkowe was a part of the agenda.

Panels on blue-green infrastructure and environmental management models in local governments, where local government officials shared their experiences, successes, and mistakes, were also of particular interest. - They teach the most – emphasised the session.

The event was not only an opportunity for education, but also for integration  - after the official part of the Congress, participants enjoyed afternoon excursion to the Wietrznia geological reserve. The day culminated in a unique atmosphere – around a bonfire and with dinner at the monastery in Karczówka.

The organisers announce consecutive Congress next year, with even wider participation of cities, organisations and experts.  - We change cities for the better, together, step by step – recapitulated the president of RPZiUK, Paweł Kułaga.